

Tamil Nadu and Kerala: as their past success trails off, they must find new ways to sustain their economic momentum
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Tamil Nadu and Kerala are among India’s most socially advanced states, with new governments ready to take charge. They are faced with a more complex challenge than many parts of the world that are still grappling with basic developmental deficits.How do they maintain prosperity, create more economic resilience and generate the next wave of opportunity?The numbers tell a powerful story.
Tamil Nadu and Kerala have two different but relatively successful development models in the most prosperous part of the country—southern India.Southern India accounts for almost 30% of India's household disposable income, while it has about 24% of its households. The region is also home to 28% of India’s middle-class households, making it the country’s most vibrant consumption zone.Tamil Nadu and Kerala glow in this southern success story for different reasons.
Tamil Nadu stands out in terms of its economic size and industrial depth. It has 8.5% of all rich households in India and the most among southern states.About 31% of Tamil households are middle class, up from 28% five years ago.
The share of rich households has also risen from 2.8% in 2015-16 to 6.2% in 2025-26.Urbanization and manufacturing have driven this transformation. Urban households now constitute more than half of the state’s.Tamil Nadu has developed one of India’s widest industrial ecosystems, covering everything from automobiles and electronics to textiles, renewable energy and services.
Read on livemint.com